The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Eket Field Office, has sealed five filling stations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, including one owned by the Chairman of the Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee (PPMC) in the state, Mr. Godwin Ekpo.
The State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Mr. Ikechukwu Eseka, disclosed this to journalists in Uyo after a two-day routine surveillance operation. He explained that Ekpo’s filling station was sealed for operating without a valid license and selling petroleum products illegally.
Eseka questioned how the PPMC chairman was able to obtain fuel products despite lacking operational authorization, suspecting a case of product diversion.
“This is a clear case of diversion involving about 15,000 litres of suspected fuel being sold at his filling station,” Eseka stated.
“How? From who? And how did he get PMS to sell when the directive of ‘No License, No Loading’ at depots is still in force? His filling station was even selling the diverted product from two pumps,” he added.
He further noted that the other four filling stations were sealed for various infractions, including under-dispensing, poor housekeeping, and unauthorized modification or rebranding without NMDPRA approval.
Eseka emphasized that the affected filling stations would remain sealed until the owners pay the required fines to the Federal Government and comply with all operational regulations.
